Jasarevic seeks support

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting leader from Bosnia-Herzegovina is calling on Indonesians not to let up on their concern and support for Moslems in the war-torn Balkans.

Nermina Jasarevic, the secretary-general of the Union of Women's Association of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is here for a week to meet Moslem groups and garner support.

"We need full support, not only from Moslems, but other groups as well, because what's happening in my country is a problem for the world, for humanity," she told the press yesterday.

"Please continue your support of Bosnia...even a kind word means a lot for us," said Jasarevic who, since the aggression of the Serbs four years ago, has lost her father, husband, uncle and three cousins to the war.

Jasarevic has met with Indonesian Moslem women leaders Tuti Alawiyah and Ida Farida. She will attend the inauguration of the Assyafiiyah Moslem University here today and later meet with Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro.

Jarasevic, traveling alone, is here at the invitation of the Sidik Foundation, a center for studies and information on contemporary Islamic worlds. She is also scheduled to speak at several mass prayers today and over the next several days.

The prayers are expected to draw thousands of Moslems who have not relented in supporting the Bosnian cause since the onset of war in the ex-Yugoslavian state.

Last year, for instance, KISDI, a leading Moslem organization here, signed up more than 10,000 volunteers to go to Bosnia to fight Serbs and Croats. Along with another organization led by business tycoon Probosutejo, the organization helped raise billions of rupiah, which were donated and sent to Bosnia.

After her visit here, Jarasevic is scheduled to fly to Brunei Darussalam; Istanbul, Turkey; and Barcelona, Spain, to seek similar support from Moslems there.

The women's organization she leads currently has some 70,000 Bosnian members, many of whom have fallen victim to rape, murder and other war atrocities. (swe)